Economic Sustainability

When UBC began planning a sustainable community on campus, they did this to create a sense of place in what had been largely a commuter campus and to transform a dormant land asset to proceeds that could be endowed and invested to the benefit of the University’s academic mission.

The revenue generated from UBC Properties activities is placed in various endowment funds where the annual distributions from these endowments are allocated for professorships, chairs, research and academic support for every faculty.

However, there is a cost to transform UBC into a vibrant, around the clock community. UBC implements a levy similar to a municipal DCC, this charge is called an Infrastructure Impact Charge (IIC). IIC's ensure the impact of growth on the campus is safe, sustainable and environmentally responsible. They provide a means for new buildings to pay for planned upgrades to storm and sanitary sewers, water mains, roads and sidewalks, street lighting and park development. IIC's are charged on all capital projects including market and campus housing, academic buildings and commercial buildings.

Market housing on campus increases the residential population which not only increases the demand on existing infrastructure but it also increases the demand on recreation and cultural facilities. UBC charges developers a Community Amenity Charge (CAC) to assist the University in paying constructing community buildings and recreational facilities such as community centres and day care facilities.